Visual system for, and method of, displaying graphics and alphanumeric information
First Claim
1. In combination,a visual display screen constructed to provide graphics and alphanumeric displays, a first system displaced from the display screen and constructed to activate the visual display screen to provide a display of a specific item, a second system displaced from the display screen and constructed to activate the visual display screen to provide a sequence of graphics presentations, first controls for providing priority to the activation of the visual display screen by the second system relative to the activation of the screen by the first system, second controls operative to de-activate the priority of the second system and to activate the first system for the presentation of the specific item on the visual display screen upon the occurrence of the specific item, and third controls for activating the visual display screen again to display the sequence of graphics presentations after the presentation of the specific item on the visual display screen.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A visual (e.g. liquid crystal) screen displays a sequence of graphics presentations and a specific event. The graphics sequence (e.g. visual representations of products in a market) has a display priority except when the specific event occurs. The specific event may be in graphics or alphanumeric form and related or unrelated to the graphics sequence. When the specific event has been displayed, the graphics sequence has priority again. In one embodiment, the specific event may be products identified and priced at a checkout counter by a bar code scanner or a keyboard. This information is processed alphanumerically. The processed information is displayed on the screen until the transaction completion (e.g. total purchase price is displayed). After a designated (e.g. 30 seconds) time following the purchase price display, the sequence of graphics presentations resumes display priority. In a second embodiment, the display screen is integrated with a bar code scanner in a housing and is displaced from the checkout counter to advertise a graphics sequence of product promotions in the market and also to provide price information requested by the customer. The display screen also provides a priority to the graphics sequence when there is no interaction with the customer. When the customer desires to price an item, the customer places the item at the scanner window. The scanned alphanumeric information is processed and the processed information (e.g. product description and price) is displayed alphanumerically for the designated time. The graphics sequence thereafter resumes priority unless another item is scanned within the designated time.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. In combination,
a visual display screen constructed to provide graphics and alphanumeric displays, a first system displaced from the display screen and constructed to activate the visual display screen to provide a display of a specific item, a second system displaced from the display screen and constructed to activate the visual display screen to provide a sequence of graphics presentations, first controls for providing priority to the activation of the visual display screen by the second system relative to the activation of the screen by the first system, second controls operative to de-activate the priority of the second system and to activate the first system for the presentation of the specific item on the visual display screen upon the occurrence of the specific item, and third controls for activating the visual display screen again to display the sequence of graphics presentations after the presentation of the specific item on the visual display screen.
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8. In combination,
a support member, a visual display screen disposed on the support member and constructed to display alphanumeric information and graphical information, a member displaced from the display screen and constructed to identify a specific item and parameters concerning the specific item, a processor displaced from the display screen and constructed to receive the identification of the specific item and the parameters and to provide to the visual display screen the identification of the item and the parameters of the item for visual display by the display screen, the visual display screen also being constructed to provide a sequence of graphics presentations, and a priority encoder for normally providing a priority on the visual screen to the sequence of graphics presentations and responsive to the information from the processor for providing on the visual display screen a visual display identifying the specific item and the parameters of the specific item on a priority basis over the sequence of the graphics presentations.
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15. A method of providing a visual display of graphics and alphanumeric information, including the steps of:
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disposing on a support member a visual display screen constructed to display graphics information and alphanumeric information, providing for a display on the display screen of a sequence of graphics presentations from a position displaced from the display screen, providing for a display on the visual display screen of a specific item from a position displaced from the display screen, in an individual one of the graphics form or the alphanumeric form depending upon the specific item, providing for a priority in the display of the sequence of graphics presentations on the visual display screen, overcoming the priority to provide for the display of the specific item on the visual display screen when the specific item is presented to the visual display screen, and providing for the display again of the sequence of graphics presentations on the visual display screen on a priority basis after the display of the specific item has been presented to the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of presenting a visual display to a customer in a market of graphics and alphanumeric information, including the steps of:
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disposing a visual display screen to provide for the presentation of the visual display to the customer, providing for a presentation to the visual display screen from a position displaced from the visual display screen of graphics information representing advertisements and promotions of products for sale in the market, providing for a presentation to the visual display screen from a position displaced from the display screen of alphanumeric information identifying specific products in the market and the prices of such products, providing for the presentation of the alphanumeric information to the visual display screen in accordance with the operation of a selective one of a bar code scanner and a keyboard, providing for the display on the display screen, in accordance with the operation of the selective one of the bar code scanner and the keyboard, of the alphanumeric information presented to the visual display screen and otherwise providing for the display of the graphics information on the visual display screen, and providing a particular time for a transition from the display of the alphanumeric information on the visual display screen to the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations on the visual display screen. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
when the alphanumeric information is provided of products being purchased by the customer, providing for the continued display of the alphanumeric information on the display screen until the products and the prices of the products have been displayed and the prices of the products have been totaled, and thereafter providing for the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations on the visual display screen.
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26. A method as set forth in claim 24, including the step of:
- when the alphanumeric information is provided by the operation of the bar code scanner relating to products being contemplated for purchase by the customer, providing for the continued display of the alphanumeric information on the display screen for a particular period of time after the operation of the bar code scanner, and thereafter providing for the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations on the visual display screen unless the alphanumeric information for another product has been presented to the display screen during the particular period of time.
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27. A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein a processor is provided for processing the alphanumeric information generated by the selective one of the bar code scanner and the keyboard and for introducing the processed alphanumeric information to the visual display screen for display by the visual display screen.
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28. A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein when the bar code scanner and the keyboard are provided at a checkout counter, wherein the alphanumeric information generated by the bar code scanner and the keyboard are transmitted by the keyboard to the processor for processing by the processor and wherein the processor transmits the processed alphanumeric information through the keyboard to the visual display screen for visual display on the visual display screen.
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29. A method of providing a visual display, including the steps of:
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providing a visual display screen constructed to display graphics information and alphanumeric information, providing for a display from a position displaced from the display screen of a sequence of graphics presentation on the visual display screen, providing a specific item from a position displaced from the display screen, providing for a display of the specific item on the visual display screen, providing a priority for the display of the specific item on the visual display screen relative to the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations, maintaining the priority, for a particular period of time after the provision of the specific item, in the display of the specific item on the visual display screen relative to the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations, and providing for the display of the sequence of graphics presentations on the visual display screen after the particular period of time unless another specific item is presented for display in the visual display screen before the end of the particular period of time. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
the specific item comprises a plurality of items that a customer is purchasing in a market. -
36. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein
the sequence of the graphical presentations comprises a sequence of advertisements and promotions of products in a market and wherein the specific item comprises an alphanumeric identification of a particular product, and the price of the particular product, that a customer is interested in purchasing in the market. -
37. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein
the sequence of graphical presentations comprises a sequence of advertisements and promotions of products in a market and wherein the specific item comprises an alphanumeric identification of a list of products, and the prices of the products, being purchased by the customer in the market and the total price of the products being purchased by the customer.
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Specification